GOVERNOR RELEASES 2014-15 BUDGET

The state Constitution requires the Governors to submit a budget proposal for the next fiscal each year by January 10, but this year the budget was two days early. Early release may be the new standard – two years ago, the budget was released five days early after someone inadvertently posted the document to the Department of Finance website.

So, the annual budget battle begins. However, this year the state is planning on a surplus – which may make the battles even more intense, as members of the majority party fight to lock-in a share of that new revenue for new and existing programs.

Over the next few months this budget will be dissected, disconnected, taken-apart, reconfigured, lambasted, and generally go through the standard process.